Award-winning Idiot' at Merriam Theater

Too often, the shows that go out on national tours and play theaters in Philadelphia are old fare -- tried-and-true standards such as “Cats,” “Les Miserables” and “West Side Story.”

Fortunately, the Kimmel Center’s Broadway Series is willing to step outside the box. Last month, it presented the story of Frank W. Abagnale Jr. in “Catch Me If You Can.” Now, the Kimmel is bringing “American Idiot” to Philadelphia. The show will run Feb. 12-17 at the Merriam Theater.

“American Idiot”, a 2010 Tony Award-nominated Best Musical and 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong.

The book is by Armstrong and Michael Mayer and direction is by Mayer, who won a Tony Award for “Spring Awakening.” The show is a is a one-act, sung-through adaptation of rock opera album by Green Day, one of America’s most famous punk rock bands.

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The musical expands the story which focuses on three young men who are having trouble coming to terms with their lives -- Johnny, Will and Tunny. Other main characters are The Extraordinary Girl, Heather, Whatshername and St. Jimmy.

Alyssa DiPalma plays the role of Whatsername, a pretty young woman who gets involved with Johnny in his pleasure-driven world of drugs and sex.

“I had seen the show on Broadway a few years ago and I loved it,” said DiPalma, during a phone interview last week. “When I saw it, I knew that I wanted to be in it. The music is awesome. It’s incredible in-your-face music.’

DiPalma attended the University of Arts in Philadelphia. She grew up in South Jersey and graduated from Woodstown High School.

“I love my character Whatshername,” said DiPalma. “When I first saw the show, I said to myself -- I want to play that role. It was a bit of serendipity. She’s a lot cooler than I am so I think it’s a fun challenge.

“She’s a passionate city person. She’s so independent. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She just lives her own life. She’s a powerful woman and that makes her sexy.”

With situations such as drug addiction, wild sex, unplanned pregnancies and hardcore city life, no-one will ever confuse “American Idiot” with “South Pacific” or “The Music Man.”

“The appeal of the show is that it is very human,” said DiPalma. “The music might be a reach for some older people but the message and the story are universal. It hits something in everyone.

“It shows human errors, learning from them and coming back and starting over. There is a really good question at the end of the show -- Is this the end or is this the beginning?”